U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Public Affairs

Courtesy Story

USS BATAAN, At Sea - Sailors aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan and embarked Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit transited the Suez Canal June 20, and entered the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations relieving the USS Boxer Amphibious Group.

While deployed to the region, Bataan will conduct Maritime Security Operations, which help set the conditions for security and promote regional stability and global prosperity.

"The focus is maritime security, but regardless of the mission, we stand ready," said Capt. Sam Howard, Bataan's commanding officer. "Our training leading up to deployment and the inherent capability of Bataan's blue/green team, provides the combatant commander with a versatile force that's able to respond to tasking at a moment's notice."

Bataan serves as the flagship for the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group/22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. The 22nd MEU is comprised of a Ground Combat Element, Battalion Landing Team, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment; Aviation Combat Element, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (Reinforced); Logistics Combat Element, Combat Logistics Battalion 22; and the MEU Command
Element.

Bataan is also the first ship to deploy with embarked MV-22B Ospreys in an amphibious environment. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263, with a complement of 10 Ospreys, provides increased flexibility over the CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-46D Sea Stallion in their ability to transfer equipment and troops from ship to shore. The Osprey brings greater range, lift capacity, speeds and the ability conduct aerial refueling.

Amphibious Squadron Two includes Bataan, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry, the amphibious transport dock USS Ponce, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, Fleet Surgical Team 6, Assault Craft Unit 2, ACU-4 and Beachmaster Unit 2.

Bataan is the fifth ship of the Navy's Wasp-class ships. She was commissioned Sept. 20, 1997, and is the second U.S. Navy warship to bear the name. CVL-29 was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier that was commissioned in November 1943. After serving in both World War II and the Korean conflict, CVL-29 was decommissioned in 1954.

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